Web Desk/AFP

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.<hr>Catch up: Yesterday&rsquo;s top developments<ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li id="isPasted">Pakistan, Saudi leaders stress dialogue, vigilance</li><li>Israel and Hezbollah agree Lebanon ceasefire: US official</li><li>Switzerland says &lsquo;remains ready&rsquo; to facilitate talks</li><li>Pakistan&rsquo;s name &#39;echoes with respect&#39; worldwide amid mediation role: PM Sharif</li><li>Oil prices drop as supply starts moving through Strait of Hormuz</li></ul><hr> Israeli settlers vandalize Palestinian home in the West BankPublished: June 20, 2026 | 00:59 GMT | By Web Desk Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian home in the al-Hara&rsquo;iq area of the occupied West Bank, south of Nablus, AL Jazeera reported.&nbsp;Elsewhere, Israeli forces assaulted a young man in the Bir Qouza area in Beita. He was transferred to a local medical facility, according to AL Jazeera.&nbsp;Israeli settlers also destroyed olive trees belonging to Palestinians in the village of Kisan, east of Bethlehem,. <hr> Trump praises Pakistan leadership&nbsp;Published: June 19, 2026 | 20:05 GMT | By Web Desk&nbsp;US President Donald Trump praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the conflict between the United States and Iran.&nbsp;In an interview with Axios, Trump highlighted the relationship between Pakistan&#39;s civilian and military leadership while discussing efforts that led to Islamabad MoU.&nbsp;&ldquo;In Pakistan, you have the field marshal, who is great, Munir, he&#39;s great. And you have the prime minister, and they just get along great,&rdquo; Trump said.&nbsp;&nbsp;The US president said he had initially expected a different dynamic between the country&#39;s political and military leadership.&nbsp;&ldquo;I figured, well, maybe the military guy would be, he totally respects the prime minister. It&#39;s a beautiful thing to see,&rdquo; Trump added. <hr> For earlier developments, read our June 19 live blog&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/middle-east-live-june-19-2026" style="color:#0073e6;">here</a>

Middle East

US President Donald Trump discusses efforts that led to Islamabad MoU, which ended 110 days of conflict between US and Iran and establishing a 60-day framework for negotiations.

Trump praises PM Sharif, CDF Munir after Islamabad MoU

TIJUANA: Iran&#39;s treatment at the World Cup in North America is a &quot;dark point&quot; in the history of the competition, a leading Iranian football official said Friday.&nbsp;Hedayat Mombeyni, the secretary general of the Iranian football federation, was speaking to reporters the day after his organization said it would lodge a complaint with FIFA, claiming the team was being subjected to travel restrictions that were jeopardizing its performance.&nbsp;&quot;This is a major international tournament. This sort of breaking of our rules and our agreements, in my opinion, calls football itself into question,&quot; Mombeyni told reporters at the team&#39;s training base in Tijuana, Mexico.&nbsp;&quot;I believe this will mark a dark point in the World Cup&#39;s recent history,&quot; Mombeyni added.&nbsp;Iran wanted to fly to the United States two days before their next match, against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday, because the match kicks off at midday local time.&nbsp;Iran&#39;s Belgian opponents were flying to California on Friday, two days before the game.&nbsp;But the Iranian federation said its request to follow suit was turned down.&nbsp;The US administration, which has just signed an interim deal to end its conflict with Iran, has pushed back against the Iranian claims.&nbsp;Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said Iran had been informed in advance that they would only be allowed to enter the United States on the day before its games.&nbsp;&quot;The team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match,&quot; Giuliani told CBS News on Monday.&nbsp;FIFA&#39;s rules for World Cups say teams should travel from their bases to the match venue on the day before a game, but can travel two days before &quot;in exceptional cases&quot;.&nbsp;Mombeyni hit out at the US organizers.&nbsp;&quot;Rules must be followed. Seems to me that (Giuliani) should have studied the rules much sooner. And people who are not capable of carrying out FIFA&#39;s rules should not be hosting, and FIFA should not select them to be hosts,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;In my opinion, he should have studied the rules sooner, checked with people from Team Melli of Iran, and he shouldn&#39;t have created these problems.&quot;&nbsp;The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, is the first in history in which a host nation must host on its soil the team of a nation it is at war with.

Football

Iranian football official Hedayat Mombeyni called World Cup travel restrictions a dark point, after FIFA complaint over denied US travel before Belgium match. Organizers said rules allowed entry one day before games, sparking further criticism.

Iran's treatment at World Cup 'a dark point' for football: Iranian official

COATEPEC: Mexican archaeologists unearthed ancient ruins with signs of Mayan culture as well as &quot;never before seen&quot; characteristics in the eastern state of Veracruz.&nbsp;President Claudia Sheinbaum called the discovery &quot;very relevant&quot; during her morning press conference on Friday, saying her government would allocate resources for the investigation and restoration of the site.&nbsp;The site includes a circular stone platform unlike any other unearthed in that part of Mexico.&nbsp;Researchers also discovered a monolith depicting a figure with potential Mayan features, the National Institute of Archaeology and History (INAH) said.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s a unique, unprecedented finding,&quot; said Lino Espinoza Garcia, an archaeologist for the INAH and one of the coordinators for the Campo Viejo site near the town of Coatepec.&nbsp;Dating back to the Early Classic period between 200 and 600 AD, the pre-Hispanic ruins include a flagstone and limestone platform adorned with almost squared lines or figures as well as the circular stones.&nbsp;These attributes have never been recorded in this region of Mexico, the INAH said in a statement.&nbsp;It&#39;s &quot;a very particular structure,&quot; said Alberto Vazquez, the other archaeologist responsible for the site.&nbsp;&quot;We don&#39;t have any records so far of a correlation with other (ancient) sites.&quot;&nbsp;The monolith stands 1.88 meters (6.16 feet) high, 1.47 meters (4.82 feet) wide at its broadest point and 68 centimeters (2.23 feet) at the narrowest.&nbsp;The stone depicts a scene of a symbolic character, according to experts.&nbsp;&quot;They are two characters who are requesting something, they have a bowl and are receiving something, we think it&#39;s a liquid. Obviously, in that context, it&#39;s a divine liquid, we think it would be water,&quot; Espinoza detailed.&nbsp;The archaeologist believes the image could reflect the era of a great drought in the region, which could explain why two members of the elite, one of them with Mayan traits, are depicted receiving the fluid from a divine entity.

Americas

Mexican archaeologists discovered ancient ruins in Veracruz featuring Mayan cultural signs and unique structures. The Early Classic site includes a circular platform and monolith depicting figures, offering new insights into regional history and traditions.

Archaeologists discover 'never before seen' pre-Hispanic ruins in Mexico

LONDON: British Transport Police said Friday it was responding to reports of a train &quot;collision&quot; north of London, with other emergency services saying they were attending to the incident amid media reports of injuries.&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;re responding to reports of a collision involving two trains in the Bedford area,&quot; the transport police force said on X, referring to a market town around 56 miles (90 kilometres) north of the capital.&nbsp;Unverified footage posted to social media appeared to show two East Midlands Railway (EMR) trains having collided, with one running into the other, and passengers pictured standing on the tracks beside damaged rail carriages.&nbsp;The trains appeared to have remained upright on the track, according to the images posted.&nbsp;&quot;Emergency services are dealing with an incident between London St Pancras and Leicester,&quot; EMR said on X, without providing further details.&nbsp;East of England Ambulance Service said on social media it had sent &quot;a number of resources, including air ambulance and our Hazardous Area Response Team, to a major incident on the railway south of Bedford&quot;.&nbsp;Meanwhile Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said its &quot;crews are currently in attendance at an incident on the railway just south of Bedford.&quot;&nbsp;The Daily Telegraph and Talk TV were among British media outlets to report passengers had been injured in the incident.&nbsp;But the emergency services were yet to provide any details about injuries.&nbsp;Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was &quot;deeply concerned&quot; by the collision reports.&nbsp;The rail operator Thameslink, which also serves the region, said on its X account that &quot;all lines are blocked between Luton and Bedford... due to a problem under investigation&quot;.&nbsp;Train collisions are relatively rare in Britain.&nbsp;In September 2023, several people were injured after two trains collided at Aviemore railway station in the Highlands of Scotland.&nbsp;The crash happened on the Strathspey Railway, a heritage railway run separately from mass-transit public services, and involved a stationary carriage and another train in the station.&nbsp;One of the trains involved was the record-breaking, century-old Flying Scotsman, the first steam train to reach over 100 miles an hour, the National Railway Museum said.&nbsp;In August 2020, an early morning service from Aberdeen to Glasgow came off the tracks, killing three people near the town of Stonehaven, northeast Scotland, after a landslip caused by heavy rain.&nbsp;The driver of the train, a conductor and a passenger died and six other people were injured in the tragedy.&nbsp;Network Rail -- an arm of the UK Department for Transport -- pleaded guilty in 2023 to safety failings at a court hearing and the public body was fined &pound;6.7 million ($8.4 million).

United Kingdom

British Transport Police responded to reports of a train collision north of London near Bedford. Emergency services attended, with media reporting injuries, while authorities investigated the incident involving two trains.

Two trains reported to have collided north of London: transport police

SEATTLE: The United States advanced to the World Cup knockout rounds with a game to spare following an impressive 2-0 win over Australia Friday, stoking the hopes of an already hyped host nation.&nbsp;The US join fellow tournament co-hosts Mexico as the first teams to progress, and could be assured top spot in Group D if Turkey fail to beat Paraguay later Friday.&nbsp;Excitement had been running high from last week&#39;s US thrashing of Paraguay.&nbsp;And a glorious day in the Pacific Northwest did not disappoint the red-and-white-clad fans who packed Seattle&#39;s Lumen Field and its surrounding streets and bars.&nbsp;Even before kickoff, chants of &quot;USA&quot; rocked a stadium best known as the raucous home of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, but also a US soccer hotbed that hosts the local Sounders.&nbsp;Without injured talisman attacker Christian Pulisic, who failed to recover from a calf issue in time, coach Mauricio Pochettino switched to a 4-4-2 formation, bringing in second striker Ricardo Pepi.&nbsp;For the second game running, the US were gifted an early lead, thanks to an own goal in the 11th minute.&nbsp;Playing slightly wider than usual, star striker Folarin Balogun raced down the left and cut the ball back from the byline.&nbsp;Under pressure from a lurking Pepi, Aussie defender Cameron Burgess steered the ball into his own net.&nbsp;&nbsp;Toothless AustraliaHaving surprisingly dropped both goalscorers from their impressive opening win over Turkey, Australia looked toothless.&nbsp;The US controlled possession and were lively and dynamic on the attack, Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest combining well down the right flank.&nbsp;Alex Freeman doubled the US lead in the 44th minute from what was surprisingly his team&#39;s first shot on target.&nbsp;Taking a free kick from the right byline, Antonee Robinson ignored the scrum in the box and played the ball to Sergino Dest, wide open in the D, whose blocked shot looped up into the air.&nbsp;Freeman -- son of Super Bowl-winning NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman -- was first to the ball, heading it past Patrick Beach. The offside flag went up. But it was overturned by VAR, and the stadium rocked for a second a time.&nbsp;Australia made three changes at the break -- sending on Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda, the goalscorers against Turkey -- and pushed higher up the field.&nbsp;They were nearly caught out immediately. Balogun raced onto a through ball for a one-on-one chance, but his shot was blocked after a heavy touch.&nbsp;Australia&#39;s best chance so far came in the 62nd minute. The dangerous Cristian Volpato -- who switched allegiance from Italy to Australia on the eve of the tournament -- skied his shot from Irankunda&#39;s cut-back pass.&nbsp;With the US sitting back, Metcalfe had a shot saved, a rampaging Irankunda was brought down by Richards, and Jason Geria&#39;s close-range effort was blocked in a nervy final phase for the hosts.&nbsp;But despite late-flaring tensions between the teams, the Americans held on for the clean sheet and will have the luxury of playing Turkey next Thursday, knowing their spot in the round of 32 is secured.&nbsp;With home advantage and sparkling form so far, US fans will be dreaming of a run to the quarter-finals, which they last reached in 2002, and even beyond.

The United States secured a 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle, advancing to the World Cup knockout rounds with a game to spare. An own goal and Alex Freeman’s strike sealed the win, keeping the Americans unbeaten.

USA beat Australia 2-0 to reach World Cup knockouts

WASHINGTON: A new Air Force One gifted by Qatar as a replacement aircraft for ferrying US presidents was unveiled Friday by the US Air Force.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Air Force&rsquo;s VC-25B Bridge aircraft has officially arrived at the Presidential Airlift Group and will commence its initial commissioning flights, marking the successful delivery of a secure, modified executive platform,&rdquo; the Air Force said.&nbsp;Qatar&rsquo;s gift of the aircraft valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars has raised ethical, constitutional and security concerns.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump was set to speak Friday at an event to mark the unveiling of the aircraft.&nbsp;Trump has previously it would be &ldquo;stupid&rdquo; to reject the gift, while also stoking further concern by saying the plane would eventually be donated to his presidential library.&nbsp;The US president has fixated on replacing the aircraft, which have been in service since the 1990s, since his first term.&nbsp;On Thursday, White House officials bade farewell to one of the two heavily modified Boeing 747s that have transported US presidents for decades, which fueled speculation that the new jet would be unveiled imminently.&nbsp;While the now-replaced aircraft sported a blue and white exterior, the new aircraft has a navy blue underbelly, thin red stripe and blue upper body.&nbsp;Whenever a US president is on the jet, it officially takes the call sign Air Force One.&nbsp;The US government has contracted Boeing to deliver two new 747-8 aircraft to serve as part of the presidential fleet, however the program has been plagued by delays and cost-overruns.

The US Air Force unveiled a Qatar-gifted replacement aircraft for presidential transport. The modified jet will begin commissioning flights while Boeing’s delayed Air Force One replacement program continues.

Qatar-gifted Air Force One replacement unveiled

BERLIN: A German court on Friday handed a three-year jail term to a man who published online &quot;death sentences&quot; with calls to kill politicians, said to include former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz. The 50-year-old German-Polish man, partially named as Martin S., admitted to operating an anonymous darknet platform called &quot;Assassination Politics&quot;, during the trial held in the western city of Duesseldorf. He was convicted of crimes including terrorist financing, providing instructions about committing terrorist acts and building explosive devices including Molotov cocktails, a court spokeswoman said. Martin S. on the site called for attacks on public figures, and reportedly published lists of names in &quot;criminal files&quot; along with &quot;death sentences&quot; he had pronounced for alleged crimes such as &quot;high treason&quot;, the court said. He holds &quot;far-right views,&quot; the court&#39;s press office told AFP. A source close to the initial investigation has told AFP that while Martin S. acted alone, he had links to a broader right-wing conspiracy theorist movement, and that Merkel and Scholz were among those on his hit list. Prosecutors said that he also solicited cryptocurrency donations intended to serve as &quot;bounties&quot; for the killings, although the court noted that no such donations were actually made. The platform also contained sensitive personal data regarding potential victims. Prosecutors had sought a five-year prison sentence, while the defence had argued for acquittal. The verdict is not yet final and may be appealed. In recent years, Germany has dismantled several far-right or conspiracy-driven networks suspected of plotting to target the country&#39;s institutions and leaders. In 2022, members of a group including an ex-MP and former soldiers were arrested over a plot to attack parliament, overthrow the government and install aristocrat and businessman Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss as head of state.

Europe

A German court on Friday handed a three-year jail term to a man who published online "death sentences" with calls to kill politicians, said to include former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz.

German court jails man over online 'death lists' of politicians

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to Egypt on Sunday to attend the fourth meeting of foreign ministers from the R-4 group, comprising Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and T&uuml;rkiye, as regional powers seek to consolidate diplomatic efforts following the end of the Iran-US conflict. The meeting comes at a critical stage in the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed this week by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which ended 110 days of conflict between Washington and Tehran and established a 60-day framework for negotiations on outstanding issues. The R-4 group first met in Islamabad in March amid growing regional tensions, with member states coordinating diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and regional stability. Since then, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye and Egypt have remained closely engaged on developments surrounding the conflict and subsequent peace efforts. According to a statement issued by Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office, the Cairo meeting will &ldquo;discuss regional developments and exchange views on issues related to peace, security and stability.&rdquo;&nbsp; The ministry said participants would also explore ways to &ldquo;further strengthen&rdquo; cooperation among the four countries in areas of shared interest. The gathering follows the postponement of technical-level Iran-US talks that had been expected to take place in Switzerland.&nbsp; Prime Minister&#39;s Office sources told Pakistan Television that the meeting was deferred after the Islamabad MoU was electronically signed and entered its implementation phase, with technical discussions now expected to be held separately on multiple issues covered under the agreement. The accord requires an immediate cessation of military operations between the United States, Iran and their allies, provides for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and launches negotiations on broader political, security and nuclear-related matters under the 60-day implementation framework. During his visit to Cairo, Dar is also scheduled to meet Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.&nbsp; The Foreign Office said Pakistan attaches &ldquo;great importance&rdquo; to its relations with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and T&uuml;rkiye, describing the R-4 framework as a reflection of the four countries&#39; shared commitment to &ldquo;consultation, cooperation and coordinated efforts&rdquo; in support of regional peace, security and prosperity.

Foreign Affairs

Regional mediators Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye will meet in Cairo as implementation of the Iran-US agreement advances, with officials expected to discuss regional stability, future negotiations and coordinated efforts to preserve diplomatic momentum.


Pakistan FM to attend Cairo meeting as mediators back Iran-US accord

Muhammad Imad Abbas

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday announced one of its largest fuel price reductions in recent years, lowering petrol by Rs74 ($0.25) per liter and diesel by Rs67 ($0.24) per liter as global oil markets steadied following the end of the US-Iran conflict. The government reduced petrol prices to Rs299 ($1.08) per liter and diesel prices to Rs311 ($1.12) per liter. The move comes days after the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, which ended 110 days of conflict that disrupted regional trade, threatened energy supplies and fueled volatility in global oil markets. For Pakistan, the reduction represents the first major economic dividend from the easing of tensions in the Middle East. During the conflict, Islamabad faced the same challenge confronting many Asian energy-importing nations: protecting consumers from rising fuel costs while operating under tight fiscal constraints.&nbsp; Unlike wealthier economies that relied on larger financial reserves and extensive subsidy programs, Pakistan sought to cushion the impact through austerity measures, targeted support and efforts to maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office, the government utilized Rs129 billion ($455.8 million) generated through spending adjustments and austerity measures to shield consumers from the effects of rising fuel prices during the crisis. &ldquo;The benefit of improved economic conditions in the region and declining oil prices is being passed on immediately to the public,&rdquo; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in the statement. &ldquo;Since the beginning of this crisis, we have made every possible effort to reduce fuel prices using our available resources.&rdquo; The Prime Minister&#39;s Office said Pakistan avoided the shortages and supply disruptions experienced in some markets during the regional crisis.&nbsp; &ldquo;Thanks to effective measures, there were no fuel shortages, no long queues, and no disruption in the supply of petroleum products to the public,&rdquo; the statement said. PM Sharif also linked the latest fuel-price reduction to broader diplomatic efforts aimed at easing regional tensions.&nbsp; &ldquo;By the grace of Allah, peace became possible amid tensions in the Middle East due to Pakistan&#39;s mediation efforts,&rdquo; he said. The government said it would continue pursuing policies aimed at maintaining economic stability, reducing inflation and providing relief to consumers, while presenting the fuel-price reduction as evidence that lower global oil prices are beginning to translate into benefits for ordinary Pakistanis.

Economy

Islamabad says prudent economic management and sustained regional diplomacy enabled it to protect consumers and deliver relief despite months of energy-market uncertainty, as US and Iran advance technical negotiations under a 60-day implementation framework.

Pakistan cuts fuel prices as oil markets stabilize after Islamabad MoU

GENEVA: The fatal Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading rapidly, the World Health Organization warned Friday, despite accelerating efforts to tackle the virus. The WHO said it was still racing to catch up with the worsening situation gripping the northeastern DRC. &quot;The outbreak remains serious&quot; and is &quot;evolving so fast&quot;, said Marie-Roseline Belizaire, the WHO Africa emergencies chief. &quot;However, I have seen a response that is growing stronger every day,&quot; she told reporters in Geneva, speaking from Bunia, the capital of the DRC&#39;s Ituri province, the outbreak&#39;s epicentre. The outbreak was declared on May 15, though transmission had been going undetected for some time beforehand. It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment. There have been 896 confirmed cases so far in the DRC, including 232 confirmed deaths, with&nbsp;21 new cases in the last 24 hours, according to the latest WHO update. More than 90 percent of known cases in the DRC have been in conflict-wracked Ituri. The outbreak has also spread to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Belizaire said the epidemic was evolving so quickly that the response was racing to keep pace with the virus, which spreads by close contact and infected bodily fluids. The number of treatment beds available for Ebola patients had gone from zero to more than 500, she said. And surveillance teams were now investigating nearly 400 alerts and were capable of administering more than 2,000 tests a day, she added. Belizaire also highlighted that efforts to trace contacts of known Ebola cases had ramped up, with 75 percent of all contacts now being reached. The WHO has said 95 percent of contacts must be traced to get on top of the outbreak. Belizaire said some people falling ill were staying at home, then going to traditional healers, before finally going to healthcare centres, delaying access to treatment. In the DRC, 78 people have recovered after contracting Ebola, which she called a &quot;powerful reminder that a timely diagnosis, access to quality healthcare can save lives&quot;. Health workers killedBelizaire said health workers were hit hard in the early stages of the epidemic. So far, 75 healthcare workers have been infected with Ebola, of whom 17 have died, she said. &quot;In DRC, as we are seeing a large community outbreak, we cannot say for sure they have been infected in a health facility,&quot; she added. &quot;It is a really high price that the healthcare system is paying.&quot; Belizaire said a Chinese medical team had arrived in the capital Kinshasa and would be heading to Bunia. In neighbouring Uganda, the only other country hit, there have been 19 confirmed cases including two deaths, and 10 recovered patients. Uganda has reported no new cases for 12 days. Meanwhile the UN migration agency said it had done more than a million health screenings at borders and on travel corridors as part of surveillance measures aimed at detecting potential cases.

Africa

Warns the fatal Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading rapidly

Trump praises PM Sharif, CDF Munir after Islamabad MoU

Latest News

Iran's treatment at World Cup 'a dark point' for football: Iranian official

Archaeologists discover 'never before seen' pre-Hispanic ruins in Mexico

Trump praises PM Sharif, CDF Munir after Islamabad MoU

Two trains reported to have collided north of London: transport police

USA beat Australia 2-0 to reach World Cup knockouts